19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Languages
Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashto (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
Belarusian, Russian, other
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$33,730,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 2,130 (2008 est.), 2,145 (2007), 2,144.6 (2006), 2,150 (2005), 2,160.26 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
1.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
19
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Area
652,230 km sq
207,600 km sq
Coastline
0 km
0 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
